Automatic weft-replenishing loom



. 1,628,047 y 1927' o. M. HOLLINS AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Feb. 26, 1926 j InvenTor Denis M. Hollins bym Patented May 10, 1927.

1528,64? PATET QFFIYEQ DENIS MACHELL HQLLINS, OF BLACKBURN, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO DRA'PER COR- PORATION, OF HOPEDAL-E, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

AUTOMATIC WEFT-REPLENISHING LQOM.

Application filed Eebruary 28, 1926, Serial No. 90,774, and in Great Britain April 14., 1 925.

In an automatic weft replenishing loom, of the class in which a full bobbin is substituted for the empty one in the running shuttle, it is necessary to provide means, between the selvage of the fabric and the shuttle, to cut the weft extending from the outgoing bobbin to the selvagewhen a replenishment has been eliected. It is usual to cut the weft at a point adjacent the shuttle and, in some cases, also at a point adjacent the selvage.

In the well known Northrop type of auto matic loom, there is employed what is termed a. shuttle feeler, in the form of a pivoted arm which is moved across the inner end of the shuttle Whenever the replenishing mechanism is about to operate. if the shuttle is improperly positioned, it prevents the full movement of the shuttle feeler, and the latter functions to prevent operation of the transfer mechanism.

The means for cutting the weft adjacent the bobbin are carried this shuttle feeler and comprise a fixed cutting blade and a pivot-ally movable cutting blade Whicl1,as

the lay comes forward, is operated to cut the weft which, at that time, extends between the blades.

The means for cutting the weft adjacent a the selvage, when they are provided, are carried by the temple employed to prevent undue contraetion in width of the fabric.

In order that the end of weft extending from the selvage shall be held in position to be out by the temple weft cutter, there is pro vided between the shuttle feeler and the selvage a memberknownas a thread block comprising a pair of jaws between which the cut end of the weft is inserted as the shuttle feeler arm returns to normal trontward position.

When weaving certain classes of fabrics, temples are not employed. in which case the thread block acts to hold extended the cut weft end until it is dealt with by the opera tive.

When weaving fabrics, such for instance as heavy canvas goods, it is often the custom to dispense with temples. As the reed recedes after each beat up,. therefore, a relatively large contraction (in width occurs as between the warp in the reed and the fabric.

Although it is usual to provide that the shuttle feeler, as it moves back to normal frontward position, has a certain inward sliding movement towards the selvage of the fabric, this movement is frequently not sufficient to compensate for the contraction of the fabric, and the frontward movement of the cutter, especially if the weft be of a relatively inelastic nature. The result is, frequently, that as the reed recedes and the shuttle feeler arm moves frontwardly, the cut end of weft is plucked out of the cutter and is lashed back into the fabric before the shuttle feeler arm has moved a sufiicient distance frontwardly for the weft to be, taken hold of by the thread block. If it is attempted to overcome the difficulty by making the cutter sutiic'iently strong to retain the cut end, then it is found that the shuttle feeler arm is prevented from returning to ,normal frontward position. i

The present invention has for its object to provide means whereby a hold of the cut weft end will be maintained until it can be handed over to the thread block, even though owing to inelasticity of the weft the cut end may be pulled out of the cutter as the latter moves back to normal position.

The invention is characterized by the pro vision, intermediate the cutter on the shuttle fee-lei" arm and the usual thread block, iof auxiliary clamping means whereby the stated object is attained.

The accompanying drawing will enable the nature of the invention, and one good practical method of carrying it into prae tice, to be clearly understood;

Fig. 1 being a sectional end view of the shuttle feeler and thread cutter, and of the thread block, and of certain allied parts all forming part of one mode of construction of the well known Northrop type of automatic weft replenishing loom. I

Fig. 2 is a rear View, on an enlarged scale, of the upper end of the shuttle feeler, showing the thread cutter and the improved clamping means.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear upper end of the shuttle feeler and thread cutter, and of the clamping means.

Fig. 4 is a more or less diagrammatic plan View, illustrating how the improved clamping means function to carry between the jaws of the thread block the weft end extending from the selvage even though during the frontward movementof the shuttle feeler the loose end ofsame has been pulled ut of h c ts Referring first to Fig. 1, the shuttle feeler 1 in the form of a lever pivoted at 2, is adapted to swing rearwardly when replenishment is to take place and with its rear forked end ascertain if the shuttle 3 has properly entered the shuttle box. A spring, not shown, acts upon the shuttle feeler and tends to swing it rearwardly. Normally, a pin 4 projecting from the shuttle feeler is pressed upon by a spring-drawn arm 5 fast on a rock shaft 6. This rock shaft is turned, by the operation of well known mechanism, when weft replenishment is called for, in a direction to raise the arm 5 from the pin t and thus permit. the shuttle feeler to swing rearwardly. If the shuttle has properly entered the box the shuttle feeler is permitted to make a full rearward movement, and a finger 7, thereon is moved away from a projection 8 on a pivoted dog 9, thus permitting the said dog to swing upwardly, and to be engaged by a hunter 10 on the lay 11 as the latter approaches front centre. The dog is pivotally connected to a transfer hammer 12,

" and the engagement of the dagger by the hunter causes said transfer hammer to be operated to force down a bobbin B, positioned beneath it, to eject and take the place of the exhausted bobbin in the shuttle. If the shuttle is not properly boxed, the shuttle feeler cannot make a full rearward movement, and the dog is not raised, thus no action of the transfer hammer occurs.

Secured to the inner side of the shuttle feeler is a fixed cutting blade 13, and pivotally mounted on the inner side of that is a movable cutting blade 14 which is adapted to be operated, by engagement with a part 10' on the lay as the latter beats up, to sever the weft extending from the selvage of the fabric to the exhausted bobbin.

Between the shuttle feeler and thread cutter and the selvage it is customary to provide what is termed a thread block in the form of a pair of spring-pressed aws 15, 15.

As the shuttle feeler returns to its normal frontward position after a replenishment, it is necessary that it carry back with it the severed weft end to place it between the jaws of the thread block, there to be retained until the temple thread cutter has operated if one be provided, or until the weft has been severed at the selvage by the operative if no temple and thread cutter are provided.

During the frontward movement of the shuttle feeler the distance between the selvage of the fabric or the temple thread cutter T and the feeler thread cutter is increased, and if the weft is of an inelastic nature it often occurs, as has been previously described, that the end of the weft is plucked away from the cutter and is lashed into the fabric. If no temple is provided, the contraction in width of the fabric which; occurs as the lay goes back, accentuates the drag on the weft end and makes the plucking out of the weft a more frequent occurrence.

According to my invention, 1 overcome the difiiculty by securing to the rear end of the shuttle feeler a lateral extension 16 in the direction of the selvage, the inner end of such extension being upturned as at 16 to form a vertical fixed clamping member. In the illustrated embodiment the lateral extension is in the form of a plate secured to the shuttle feeler. Secured to the movable cutting blade 14 is a plate 17 which is offset at its rear end at 17' so that such offset portion will be adjacent and parallel to the outer side of the vertical portion 16 of the fixed clamping member. A spring may be provided to press the movable clamping member constituted by the portion 1?" of the plate 17 yieldingly towards the fixed clamping member.

The underside 17 of the rear end of the movable clamping member 17 is so appropriately shaped that when the movable cutting blade 14- is in open position, the movable clamping member forms, with the upper edge of the fixed clamping member 16, a jaw into or through which the weft passes as the shuttle feeler is moved rearwardly to ascertain the position of the shuttle.

On actuation of the movable cutting blade 14 when a transfer has been effected, the movable clamping member 17 acts to force down the weft 10 between itself and the fixed member 16. By the time the cutter has severed the weft, therefore, the end leading to the selvage is firmly held between the clamping members. As the lay recedes and the shuttle feeler arm moves frontwardly, the weft end is not plucked out and lashed into the fabric, but is retained by the clamping means and carried into the grip of the thread block even if, owing to the Weft being of an inelastic nature, or the non-employment of a temple, or for both reasons, the cut end w has been actually pulled out of the cutter. This is attained by reason of the clamping means being situated at some distance inwardly from the shuttle feeler cutter and relatively near to the thread block. The manner in which the weft end passes vertically down between the clamping members also ensures retention of the grip on the weft end, by reason of the increased distance the cut end has to move or be pulled inwardly away from the cutter lgefore it draws clear of the clamping memers.

To guard against any possibility of the weft end sliding rearwardly along the top edge of the fixed clamping member and thus possibly escaping, the rear end of said fixed clamping member is preferably formed with an upward projection 16 see particularly Fig. 3.

The exact construction of the clamping members. and the manner in which they are respectively supported and the movable member operated, may be varied so long as they function in the manner described, that is to say to prevent an end of weft. after being cut adjacent the shuttle from being plucked out of the cutter and lashed back into the fabric before it can be handed over to the thread block.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In an automatic weft replenishing loom the combination with a shuttle 'feeler 11lovable toward and from the lay, the shuttle feeler operating as described, and a thread cutter carried by said shuttle feeler and operating to cut the Weft end extending from the selvage when a transfer has been etfected, of clamping means carried by the shuttle feeler comprising a lateral extension from the shuttle feeler in the direction of the selvage upturned at its inner end to form a fixed clamping member having an extended vertical clamping face, a movable clamping member in the form of a plate secured to the movable cutting blade on the shuttle fe'eler and offset at its rear end to present an extended vertical clamping face cooperating with and adjacent and parallel to the clamping face of the upturned portion of the fixed clamping member, the under edge of said rear end and the upper edge of the fixed clamping member forming jaws between which the weft can pass as the shuttle feeler moves rearwardly with the movable cutting blade open to ascertain the position of the shuttle, and an upward projection from the rear of the top edge of the upturned portion of the fixed clamping member whereby, when the clamping members close upon the weft end and are carried forward with the shuttle feeler, the weft end after severance will be held clamped although pulled a long distance through the clamp and will be prevented from sliding rearwardly by the said pr0jection.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

DENIS MACHELL HOLLINS. 

